JLSleather

I didn't say I've never used a round knife, actually I just said I don't own one. And by the way, I don't own a maul either....

OR, to ask the same question another way ... What hammer was this tooled with? OR, yet another version of the same thing.... What machine was this sewn on?

We's headin' in the St Cloud (ish) area. Too many airports in St Paul for me (though having two Tandy's within a few minutes would be nice for those "emergency" purchases). Still, not too far up the road. I have been known to trade holsters for walleye jigs

Are we still on this?@!@! What project would someone make with a round knife (or head knife) that you wouldn't do with something else? An actual answer to that question should answer the original question

Welcome. And good work. And thanks -- for dying the inside of the slots. I see holsters with everything BUT the inside of the slots dyed, and I can never decide if it looks like the guy forgot or just couldn't be bothered. You can put the dye on before OR after stitching, in fact, many don't dye until after it's formed. Course, the thread gets dyed, too, so if you want the thread a different color, then dye the leather first .. Oh, and where you at up there? I'll be moving up yer way shortly. Don't care if it was 10° this morning when I got up... still moving up there

I don't put items in plastic bags. Those are frequently used to "sweat" or "case" leather... since teh moisture CAN'T ESCAPE .... I keep finished goods to a minimum in my little "just in time" shop, and those which are done are in drawers to prevent spills / scratches / dust ... NOT sealed.

An airbrush certainly can be useful for leather work. Folks sometimes get tunnel vision, wanting to do that same tired "fade' they see everyone else doing. TIP: If you do the same thing as everyone else, you will look like everyone else Just a little practice, and a little bit of thought, and you can do some purdy cool stuff in leather, purdy easily...

I had one supplier split me a strip of two once when I didn't want to cut into what I had here. What they charged me to split a couple of strips was borderline insane I generally have 3 weights here, and sometimes a 4th weight from time to time. But once I move, I think I'll just purchase a good size splitter. I mean, assuming that I can find one.

My belts are generally around 13-14 oz total thickness. I have hand stitched them, but not so much these days (though I would if I needed to). This weight can be done with different weights, like I do -- 8/9 oz lined with 4 oz - or with two layers of the same weight, like Dwight mentioned (double 6/7 oz). Two layers of a single thickness lets a guy get by with only buying one weight of leather, or thicker lined with thinner lets me carve a little deeper.. so each has it's benefit. No rule says you have to go all the way around the belt with one thread. Tw0-piece it (one splice) would be fine....

I did explain it -- it's to show folks what to do with downloaded holster patterns Gotta curb teh subscriptions, tho.. too many and there goes the weight of my talk about "no subscription necessary"....

I think we're not talking about the same thing here. What the next guy pays, or doesn't pay, for shipping charges is neither my business or my concern. My question about percentage was rhetorical.. I was not looking for any answer - simply making a point. But the original line of thought was (and currently is) where I should stand if I pay money but don't get what I ordered. And the conclusion is, I don't order anywhere that suggests a possible problem before I've even ordered! Whether they're charging me $7 or 7¢, I'll want what I paid for. Different people do different things. Not my forum, and I expect that some will like what I say, and some won't. Again,.. I don't employ anyone - haven't since 2005, and I won't in the future. I dont ask teh next guy what he charges, or why, because it's none of my business (plus, I dont honestly care). When I'm thinking about redheads, I mean just girls. Though I realize some have other interests, not my concern. And so it is with $30 holsters. I don't make them. Tomorrow, I'm going to not make them again. I likely wouldn't hang out with the guy who does. But it makes no difference to me if the next guy does. Unless I were to buy one and the guy selling them was to suggest that my package was lost and that's "too bad", in which case we have a problem ...

I tried to set the dogs on 'em, but the dogs just aint that bright ...

I think this will cover the theory.. just my leather lacks wrinkles https://youtu.be/OMVHrTPf1AQ

Man, was I way off. Took 3 mins to do a holster and mag pouch (not 30 seconds). Video available shortly .. no subscription required

6-32? Those holes that small?@! The pic showing hole spacing is confusing,too.. that sure don't look like 3/8" between holes ... OH, and I would need a source for them where I'm not told I may or may not get my package

Individual preference really -- each his own type thing. I have personally tooled a good bit of 9 oz cow with an 11 oz garland rawhide mallet.

I got some at http://www.usacuttingdie.com/ Think they were a tad over $50, but you'd need to tell them what you want - they'll make it the size you ask for. BYTHEWAY For general holster work, I like a slot punch 1 1/2" - 1 9/16" long by 1/4" wide. Some of my punches I had made 7/32" wide, so it ends up being 1/4" AFTER burnishing the slot...

Just FYI.. you can get a slot punch made for about the same money as the punch set and chisel. And it punches slots cleaner and faster...

And... there you have it. Brown or chocolate dye, sprayed around the edges, over a piece of leather with wrinkles. Seriously, a child can do this. I really must do a video showing how to do this, since people seem so determined to watch videos. Should take about 30 seconds or so....

Other delivery options? I can send out one holster in 1st class mail, about $3. Add 45¢ (ish) for a sturdy box. So, shipping + tracking (included with 1st class) $3.45 Or I can send it priority mail, costs $6.20. No box to purchase, tracking included, PLUS insurance included, so still $6.20 So for $2.80, I have send a tracked, insured package. Worth it to my peace of mind to spend that amount. Still doesn't "guarantee" delivery, but in the even of a fail, I'm not out, and the customer is not out. Not sure what "service" you're paying 5x for. But when I shop, I don't mind paying that price. Just don't tell me "you may not get it, in which case that's too bad" -- which IS what that little blurb on the web page equates to. If you're billing me for priority mail, that INCLUDES insurance, so don't insult me by suggesting that I pay "insurance". There is no guarantee with shipping. Wait.. there is one --- if I pay money, and I don't get compensated (either my order or my money) the one or more who didn't supply what I asked for will be regretting saving $3 for a long time ... BUT again... rather than subject myself to that ignorance... easier (and better) to just duck those people and order elsewhere ...

Nope.. don't have to be a clip.. something like that might work. The pistol will be carried on the outside, not concealed in any way. Only issue is something that fits on that little pea-shooter, holds well, and looks good.

Two points here.. in the future, if you'd like to make "double layer" belts routinely, you can do that by stacking two layers of 6/7 oz. Makes a nice belt, and usually available from retailers. I agree that double 9 oz is too much (and so do many of my customers). You don't list a location. Anybody near you can cut you a piece of 4 oz?

I have them sign above $400, or if I remember right express mail requires a signature above $400. But that generally isn't necessary. Certainly there are people who steal packages after they are delivered. But that is where the line goes... I can't be accountable for security at your house. If your packages are tracked to your house, and then go missing from there, that would warrant a theft report, not a replacement from the supplier. I do believe there are also people who will claim they didn't receive it, though they did, (though I haven't had it happen). In that case I may replace the item - but only after collaborating with the post office (and if necessary, law enforcement). Some people do seem to have an inflated sense of entitlement... the insurance company won't even pay me for things missing from the theft without a police report, so not sure why some think they can say "I didn't get it' and auto-get another... But back to my point ... if someone pays for something, it's my responsibility to provide it, in the condition it was advertised. Those who can't offer the same simple integrity, will have to sell to someone other than me.

What is that in percentage? If that's more than 5%, that would be a problem for me. I mean a problem I'd be inquiring about. The things I make take a bit of time, so I don't ship hundreds of packages per month. In fact, I don't receive hundreds per month either Every package is packed either by me or by someone who has been shown MY way BY me. Shipped priority mail teh vast majority of the time, so already insured up to $50 just for using priority. And I add insurance for those packages valued above that amount. Those times I'm sending holster blanks or belt blanks (no hours of labor involved) I sometimes ship 1st class mail, but still tracked (thus, if I know where it didn't go, at least I would know where it DID go). The 1st class packages have not been misdirected either. Those times I send sides, or partial sides, across the country I have usually used UPS. No troubles there, either. They did destroy a package with a forklift about 20 years ago, but they paid for the full amount of the goods AND returned it to me, so... nothing to complain about there. So, insurance is added to a package BY ME. Then IF something were to happen, I can just send the customer a replacement, file the claim for the 1st package, and everybody's happy. Post office gets paid a second time, I get paid a second time, customer gets what they asked for .... simple. The exception, of course, is those packages with low-value items. Sane people would generally not put $3 shipping and $3 insurance on a $3 item. Keep in mind, though ... that those $3 items are available in a bazzillion places on any day of the week -- so I just son't shop with the one who says I may or may not get what I'm paying for.